Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash for skin with dark spots
Salicylic Acid
Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Rhizome Licorice Root Extract RhizomeAverage
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for skin with dark spots; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate cleansing for normal skin, as salicylic acid and melaleuca alternifolia tree oil help exfoliate and decongest pores, but lacks specialized ingredients to address your main goal of pigmentation.
- Cocamidopropyl betaine provides general cleansing benefits, while the formula's mild keratolytic action from salicylic acid is suitable for normal skin but does not offer sufficient emollient ingredients for optimal hydration.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- You can use this cleanser AM and PM every single day. Start slowly 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in your morning routine or the second step in your evening routine. Follow it with toner and moisturizer.
- Massage a small amount of cleanser gently onto your face using circular motions. Rinse well with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- For the best results, apply your cleanser directly to wet skin to help wash away dirt. Make sure your face is clean before you begin.
- Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes. Always do a quick patch test before using the product for the very first time.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 3.6k+ reviewsThis foaming wash is widely praised for effectively clearing hormonal and teenage acne on both the face and body without stripping the skin of moisture. While most users find it gentle and refreshing, a minority experience dryness or irritation, and some note a "purging" phase before seeing results. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should definitely be taken into account.
Highlights
Clears acne Mostly Mentioned
- “helped keep oil under control”
- “3 pimples went away overnight”
- “cleared my hormonal acne”
- “great for teenage acne”
Gentle and non-drying Often Mentioned
- “doesn't strip my skin”
- “gentle enough for sensitive skin”
- “face feels clean not dry”
- “balanced cleanser”
Improves texture Sometimes Noted
- “brightened my skin”
- “skin looks healthier”
- “less oily throughout the day”
- “smooths texture”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells nice and fresh”
- “love the scent”
- “smells like orange peel”
- “refreshing botanical smell”
Versatile for body Sometimes Noted
- “helped tremendously with body acne”
- “use on face, back, neck”
- “cleared my back breakouts”
- “great for chest acne”
Price point Sometimes Noted
- “pricey but worth it”
- “expensive for a face wash”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “good but costly”
Can be drying Rarely Noted
- “makes your skin really dry”
- “left my face feeling tight”
- “too drying for me”
- “caused flaky skin”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “do not travel with this it leaks”
- “bottle cap does not pop open”
- “packaging arrived damaged”
- “leaked in my bag”
Purging period Rarely Noted
- “skin may experience purging”
- “caused initial breakout”
- “had to wait for purge to end”
- “worse before better”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “turning red around nose”
- “caused burning sensation”
- “irritated my sensitive skin”
- “skin became inflamed”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, adorebeauty.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash work for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser works for skin with dark spots, though other products fit it better because it lacks specialized ingredients to fade dark spots. A cleanser for this skin needs ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to target dark spots while keeping the skin hydrated and balanced.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Salicylic acid and tea tree oil help clean out pores, while licorice root and lavender extracts help fade dark spots. A cleanser for this skin needs high-quality brightening ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides, along with gentle hydration to protect the skin barrier while washing.
What does Salicylic Acid do for skin with dark spots?
Salicylic acid helps fade dark spots and uneven skin tone left behind after breakouts. It gently clears away surface buildup, which may improve the look of dark marks and support a smoother, more even complexion over time.
What does Tea Tree Oil do for skin with dark spots?
Tea tree oil is typically used to target breakouts and blemishes rather than dark spots, though it helps calm angry skin. To effectively fade dark spots, this type of skin needs brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Antioxidants, 2023
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine steps for skin with dark spots. To better address dark spots, this skin type needs a cleanser that also includes targeted brightening ingredients and rich moisturizing components.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, but skin with dark spots needs a cleanser that also brings extra moisture and ingredients to fade dark spots.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily as part of your morning and evening routine. It is safe for your skin, but because it lacks ingredients to target dark spots, this skin needs products with brightening ingredients like vitamin C or licorice root extract.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause major breakouts, and reviewers rarely report a purging period. Its salicylic acid helps clear out pores, though this skin type needs extra brightening ingredients to truly fade dark spots.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is safe to use on the body, but it is best to avoid the thin skin around the eyes where irritation is more likely. Skin with dark spots needs cleansers with specialized brightening ingredients and rich moisturizing components to maintain hydration.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract enhanced skin cell viability, reduced oxidative stress and melanin content, improved wound healing, and enhanced skin barrier function in human skin cells and clinical tests.
Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2025Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Tea tree oil nanoemulsion containing adapalene gel demonstrated significantly greater reductions in total, inflammatory, and non-inflammatory acne lesions as well as acne severity index compared to adapalene marketed gel in 100 patients with acne vulgaris over 12 weeks.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2022Topical 5% tea tree oil gel significantly improved total acne lesions and acne severity index compared to placebo in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, showing 3.55 times and 5.75 times greater efficacy respectively.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007A novel D-limonene and Gelucire 44/12 based microemulsion formulated with Labrasol and Labrafil M 1944 CS showed high stability, optical transparency, nanometric globule size, and a safe in vivo skin profile on mice ear skin.
Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2021Polysaccharide-based O/W emulsions incorporated with lavender essential oil applied to cellulosic support are non-irritating, provide softness and moisturizing effects, and are safe for topical patch applications.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Gellan gum hydrogel films co-encapsulating ofloxacin with tea tree or lavender oil achieved 98% wound contraction and completely healed epidermis in rats after ten days of treatment compared to baseline.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Topical application of lavender oil significantly promoted wound contraction, collagen synthesis, and fibroblast differentiation with up-regulation of TGF-beta in a rat model compared to control.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025
Why other cleansers fit skin with dark spots better
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002
Ingredients
Salicylic Acid, Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Acrylates Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Polysorbate-20, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Oleanolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Rhizome Licorice Root Extract Rhizome, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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